Why is it that so many people choose NOT to save money? It has very little to do with your income and expenses. Researchers at Dartmouth and Harvard Universities studied people with lower incomes who easily outsaved higher-income earners – by an average of $100,000 as well as people with huge incomes who didn’t save a dime.
So what did they learn?
For one, some people simply check out. The researchers say many of us don’t save because it’s easy to spend in our culture, and we’re on autopilot. We don’t think of money management as something we need to do. We’ll schedule things like laundry and movie night, but neglect to sit down and focus on our finances.
Also – we procrastinate. We know that someday we’re going to need money, but our lives are so hectic and things are so expensive, that we keep putting it off until things settle down – which, as we know, never happens. Or we’re convinced that our “million dollar idea” – that business we’re going to start or the novel we’re going to write – is going to take care of our retirement needs. When it comes to money, we have to be more practical than that.
So, ready to give your bank account a boost? Here are a couple of tips:
Bank your raise. Mary Hunt is a financial expert and author of Live Your Life For Half the Price, and she says the next time you get a raise, or a bonus, save at least half of it. Let’s say your raise gives you an extra $200 a month. If you save half of that – $100 a month – at 6% interest for 10 years, that money will grow into more than $16,000! You won’t miss it, because you never saw it in the first place.
Save the payment. When you pay off something, like a car loan or a credit card, take the amount of money you were paying each month and add it to your savings instead. A $330 monthly payment to yourself over five years turns into more than $23,000! Enough to buy your next car with CASH.
You might encounter a few scaredy-cats this Halloween, but one thing you don’t want to see is a sick or injured pet. That’s why the ASPCA asked us to remind you of these animal safety tips for the spookiest night of the year.
Keep an eye on the candy. Chocolate can cause seizures and even be fatal to dogs and cats, and the artificial sweetener xylitol can cause liver failure in dogs. It’s also important to pick up the trash. Ingesting tin foil and candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
Pet-proof your decorations. Chewing an electric cord can damage your pet’s mouth – or cause electrocution. Candles may look spooky, but they’re a big injury risk to curious cats and kittens.
Leave the costumes for the kids. Liam Crowe is a dog behavioral therapist and co-founder of Bark Busters USA. He says that while you may think those antlers or sunglasses look adorable on Fido – they could drive him crazy. If you decide to put a costume on your pet, have a dress rehearsal to make sure it doesn’t restrict their movement or breathing.
Holidays like Halloween can be overwhelming to pets. You want to make sure yours can’t get to the candy or decorations. If your dog or cat seems nervous or agitated, put them in a quiet place away from trick-or-treaters.
In the fall season, do you tend to feel happier? Here’s what’s going on, according to psychology professor Dr. Jason Brunt from Biola University.
First, your brain is more ALERT in fall than any other time of year! Because where winter is mostly white and snowy – and spring and summer are dominated by green – fall brings a burst of vibrant yellow, orange and red shades in nature. And Dr. Brunt says our brain interprets the visual contrast as something “significant.” Like a loud noise in a quiet room. It wakes us up mentally.
Then, fall foliage can also fight stress! According to the University of Washington, stressed out people who gazed at trees with brightly-colored fall foliage had a significant drop in heart rate and stress hormones. Plus, focusing on the changing colors of the leaves can be an exercise in mindfulness – which relaxes us, too.
And when the temperature drops, we have less anxiety. Hot and humid weather increases our heart rate, breathing rate, and other metabolic reactions. And our brain can interpret that as an anxiety attack. So in fall, we feel calmer.
That’s why Dr. Brunt says, autumn activates our brain in a way that makes us feel happier… calmer… and more connected to nature!
(NEW YORK) — A massive search for Brian Laundrie, the boyfriend of slain 22-year-old travel blogger Gabby Petito, took a dramatic twist Thursday with the announcement that human remains found in a Florida nature preserve are those of the wanted fugitive, according to the FBI.
The remains were recovered Wednesday, nearly five weeks after Petito’s body was recovered in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. The Teton County Coroner ruled her death a homicide by strangulation.
The search for the 23-year-old Laundrie was centered around North Port, Florida, where investigators said he returned to his home on Sept. 1 without Petito but driving her 2012 Ford Transit.
Laundrie had been named by police as a “person of interest” in Petito’s disappearance and a federal warrant had been issued for him alleging unauthorized use of Petito’s credit card.
He refused to speak to the police and vanished on Sept. 13. His parents told investigators they believed he was headed to the Carlton Reserve in North Port.
The case grabbed national attention as Laundrie and Petito had been traveling across the country since June, documenting the trip on social media. Petito’s parents reported her missing on Sept. 11 after not hearing from her for two weeks.
Here is how the weekslong search for Laundrie unfolded:
Oct 21, 5:06 pm
‘Skeletal remains’ recovered at Florida nature preserve
Apparent human “skeletal remains” were recovered Wednesday in a Florida wildlife preserve where the search for Brian Laundrie has centered, police told ABC News on Thursday.
“We have confirmed skeletal remains,” said Josh Taylor, spokesman for the North Port, Florida, Police Department.
Asked of media reports describing portions of the remains recovered, Taylor said, “We have not said anything about a skull.”
Oct 21, 3:08 pm
ID of remains could take several days: Medical examiner
Dr. Russell Vega, the chief medical examiner for Florida’s 12th District, confirmed to ABC News that he is working on trying to identify the apparent human remains found Wednesday in a nature preserve along with Brian Laundrie’s backpack and notebook.
Vega said it could take several days to identify the remains. He declined to confirm media reports that the remains discovered at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida, were bones.
Early in the search for Laundrie, FBI agents collected samples of Laundrie’s DNA from his parents home in North Port, according to the Laundrie family attorney.
Oct 20, 6:06 pm
Laundrie family attorney reacts to discovery of apparent human remains
Steven Bertolino, the family attorney for the Laundrie family, spoke with New York ABC station WABC Wednesday evening after law enforcement found human remains and items belonging to the fugitive at a Florida park.
The attorney said the area where investigators found Brian’s belongings was shown to police two weeks ago when Laundrie’s father, Chris, aided in the search.
“I can’t say for certain that Chris showed this particular area to police at that point in time, but I can say that this is an area that we initially notified the FBI that Brian liked hiking,” Bertolino said.
The attorney said the family is waiting for a proper identification before making any comments.
“As you can imagine, the parents are very distraught. … At this moment in time they’re grieving,” he said.
Oct 20, 4:42 pm
Police find apparent human remains, personal items belonging to Laundrie
Police have recovered apparent human remains that have not been identified in the search for Brian Laundrie, the FBI said Wednesday.
Authorities also found items belonging to Laundrie, like a backpack and notebook, officials said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson said the area where the items were found had previously been underwater. McPherson said a team would be on site for several days processing the scene.
Oct 20, 2:55 pm
Remains found at park, not clear if human
A law enforcement source told ABC News remains were found at a Florida environmental park. The source said investigators are working to determine whether the remains are human and whether the remains and other discovered articles are linked to Laundrie.
Oct 20, 2:19 pm
FBI confirms ‘items of interest’ found
The FBI said “items of interest” in connection to the search for Laundrie were found at the Carlton Reserve Wednesday morning and an evidence response team is processing the scene.
A cinematographer working on the film Rust is dead and the director is hospitalized after an accident during filming involving star Alec Baldwin and a misfiring prop gun, authorities said Thursday.
The Western, starring Baldwin and Jensen Ackles of Supernatural, began filming this month at Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, a film location in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Deputies with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the film set after a 911 caller “reported a shooting on the set,” the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Two people were shot after a prop firearm was discharged during filming, authorities said. Baldwin fired the prop gun, striking the film’s director, Joel Souza, and director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, the sheriff’s office said in a follow-up statement Thursday night.
Detectives are still determining “how and what type of projectile was discharged,” the sheriff’s office said earlier.
No charges have been filed in the shooting, authorities said. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
Hutchins, 42, was transported via helicopter to University of New Mexico Hospital, the state’s only Level 1 trauma center, “in critical condition,” according to sheriff’s deputies and the hospital. She later succumbed to her injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
Souza, 48, was brought in an ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center and is receiving emergency care, authorities said.
The film halted production following the accident, a producer said.
Baldwin shared a photo from the set of Rust earlier on Thursday in costume.
“Back to in person at the office,” he captioned the post. “Blimey…it’s exhausting.”
The actor is co-producing the film under his company, El Dorado Pictures, with Souza writing and directing.
Two crew members on the set of the Alec Baldwin-backed film Rust were hospitalized Thursday after a prop gun with blanks misfired, according to one of the film’s producers.
The Western, starring Baldwin and Jensen Ackles of Supernatural, began filming this month at Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, a film location in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Deputies with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday afternoon they were responding to an incident at a movie set. The producer confirmed the incident happened on the set of Rust, and said Baldwin was OK.
“There was an accident today on the New Mexico set of Rust involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks,” the producer said in a statement to ABC News. “Two crew members have been taken to the hospital and are receiving care. Production has been halted for the time being. The safety of our cast and crew remains our top priority.”
University of New Mexico Hospital, the state’s only Level 1 trauma center, said in a statement to ABC News that one patient was transported by helicopter “in critical condition.”
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
The sprawling Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch is frequently used as a film location for Westerns, including 3:10 to Yuma and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
Baldwin shared a photo from the set of “Rust” earlier on Thursday in costume.
“Back to in person at the office,” he captioned the post. “Blimey…it’s exhausting.”
The actor is co-producing the film under his company, El Dorado Pictures, with Joel Souza writing and directing.
(ATLANTA) — CDC Director Rochelle Walensky gave the final signoff on Thursday evening to recommend both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine boosters for certain populations.
The CDC’s independent panel voted unanimously to support that decision earlier Thursday.
The panel recommended a third dose for Moderna vaccine recipients at least six months after a person’s initial course for those 65 and older, and those as young as 18 who are at higher risk due to their underlying health conditions, or where they work or live.
This aligns with what was recommended for a third booster dose for recipients of the Pfizer vaccine.
A second dose for those that received a one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine was recommended for anyone 18 years and older, at least two months after their first dose.
The panel also cleared the way for allowing mixing and matching of booster doses, meaning they will allow for people to get a different brand as a booster than was used for a primary vaccination.
Echoing the FDA however, CDC advisors today did not say any booster combination was preferred over another.
MORE: As White House announces vaccine plan for kids ages 5-11, states prepare for complex rollout
CDC’s advisory vote follows — and falls in line with — FDA’s move Wednesday to authorize those boosters, and aligns with what FDA and CDC authorized for the Pfizer vaccine booster shots last month.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky must now give the final signoff to the panel’s recommendation, which is typically expected within a day.
Hey, Dave Grohl, another rocker needs to use your throne.
On Wednesday, Wolfgang Van Halenrevealed that he’d sprained his ankle after he “ate s*** walking off the bus” while on tour with his Mammoth WVH solo band. He also shared a photo of the boot he was to wear for the next month or so, adding that he was going to be “Dave Grohl-ing” it for Mammoth’s show Hunstville, Alabama, last night.
Grohl, of course, broke his leg after falling off the stage during a 2015 concert. For the Foo Fighters tour later that year, he sat on a giant, guitar-adorned throne while his leg healed.
Following the Huntsville concert, Wolf posted photos of him playing the show while sitting on a much more humble stool.
“Welp…Never done that before, but we pulled it off!” Wolf wrote in the caption. “Thanks to Huntsville for making it such a special show!”
Mammoth’s tour continues Thursday in Knoxville, Tennessee. They’ll also be playing this weekend’s Shaky Knees festival in Atlanta along with Foo Fighters, so maybe Grohl can bring the throne then.
Grohl previously lent the throne to Axl Rose to use after he broke his foot in 2016. Just last month, Grohl sent it to Darin Wall, the bassist for the Seattle-based metal band Greyhawk, who was recovering from being shot in the leg while defending others from a gunman outside an Idaho music venue.
The soundtrack to the new psychological thriller film Last Night in Soho features a variety of memorable 1960s tunes by British artists, including The Who, The Kinks and Dusty Springfield.
The album will be released on Friday, while the film is scheduled to open in theaters on October 29.
Last Night in Soho focuses a character named Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer who can travel back in time to 1960s London, where she meets a wannabe pop singer named Sandie, portrayed by The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor Joy.
The movie was written and directed by Edgar Wright, whose previous films include Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Baby Driver. Wright curated the soundtrack and says the songs he assembled for the film actually inspired the script and story.
The soundtrack includes The Who’s cover of the Motown classic “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave” and The Kinks’ “Starstruck,” as well as songs by Dusty Springfield, Peter & Gordon, The Searchers, Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw and The Walker Brothers. The movie’s title is taken from a song of the same name by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, which also is featured on the soundtrack.
In addition, Taylor Joy recorded multiple versions of Petula Clark‘s classic pop hit “Downtown” for the soundtrack and the film’s original score, and she’s featured performing the tune in the movie.
You can check out a video of Taylor Joy performing the “Downtempo” version of “Downtown” on YouTube now. The track’s also been released as an advance digital single from the Last Night in Soho — Original Score album.
Here’s the full track list of the Last Night in Soho soundtrack:
“A World Without Love” — Peter & Gordon
“Wishin’ and Hopin'” — Dusty Springfield
“Don’t Throw Your Love Away” — The Searchers
“Beat Girl” (1993 Remaster) — The John Barry Orchestra
“Starstruck” — The Kinks
“You’re My World” — Cilla Black
“Wade in the Water” (Live at Klooks Kleek) — The Graham Bond Organisation
“I’ve Got My Mind Set on You” — James Ray
“(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave” — The Who
“Puppet on a String” — Sandie Shaw
“Land of 1000 Dances” — The Walker Brothers
“There’s a Ghost in My House” — R. Dean Taylor
“Happy House” — Siouxsie & the Banshees
“(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me” — Sandie Shaw
“Eloise” — Barry Ryan
“Anyone Who Had a Heart” — Cilla Black
“Last Night in Soho” — Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
“Neon” (Soundtrack Edit) — Steven Price
“Downtown” (A Capella) — Anya Taylor-Joy
“Downtown” (Uptempo) — Anya Taylor-Joy
Tom Morello and grandson have premiered the video for their collaborative song “Hold the Line.”
The black-and-white clip finds the Rage Against the Machine guitarist rocking out with the “Blood//Water” artist in the corner of a small room. The claustrophobic, punk-rock vibe reflects the political message of the song, which, as grandson explains, takes its title from the “union rally cry for anyone experiencing backlash for standing their ground.”
You can watch the “Hold the Line” video streaming now on YouTube.
“Hold the Line” appears on Morello’s new solo album The Atlas Underground Fire, which dropped last week. The record also includes guest spots from artists including Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Bring Me the Horizon and Phantogram.
Grandson, meanwhile, can also be heard in the new The Suicide Squad movie, which features his single “Rain” with Jessie Reyez.
